Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will lead Argentina’s squad at the Copa America, with Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero back in the side for the first time since the 2018 World Cup.
Both were named on Tuesday in the country’s 23-man squad for the tournament along with Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, who made the cut despite scoring only five goals in 30 league appearances this season.
There was no place for Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, the Nerazzurri‘s leading scorer this term with 11 goals.
#SelecciónMayor ¡Estos son los 23 convocados! Aquí, la lista de @lioscaloni para disputar la @CopaAmerica de Brasil.#VamosArgentina 🇦🇷💪⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ldiNiUV2zB
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) May 21, 2019
Messi, who took a nine-month break from the national team after the World Cup before playing again in a 3-1 defeat to Venezuela in March, has scored 50 goals in all competitions this season for Barcelona heading into Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Valencia.
The Argentina captain finished as La Liga’s top scorer with 36 goals in 34 appearances as Barca retained the Spanish crown.
Aguero was a big contributor to City’s successful Premier League title defence, scoring 21 goals and setting up eight more in 33 league appearances.
Scaloni had previously not selected Aguero, 30, since replacing Jorge Sampaoli as manager after the World Cup.
Aguero last featured for Argentina as a substitute in their 4-3 loss to France in the round of 16 in Russia. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Angel Di Maria, who also returned to the fold in March, is among the veterans included.
Injuries have deprived Argentina of Gremio defender Walter Kannemann and Racing Club winger Matias Zaracho.
Icardi was left out despite being his club’s top scorer with five more goals than teammate Lautaro Martinez, who has been selected in the Argentina squad.
A contract dispute with his club earlier this year saw Icardi dropped from the team for 53 days and he has only scored twice since returning to play on April 3.
Martinez has not scored since March 17.
Scaloni has included seven Argentina-based players, among them River Plate veteran goalkeeper Franco Armani. The Albiceleste last lifted the Copa America in 1993 — the last major tournament the senior side has won — and begin the tournament against Colombia on June 15. They will also take on Paraguay and Qatar in Group B.
Argentina full squad:
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Agustin Marchesin (Club America), Esteban Andrada (Boca Juniors).
Defenders: Juan Foyth (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), German Pezzella (Fiorentina), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Ramiro Funes Mori (Villarreal), Renzo Saravia (Racing Club), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon), Milton Casco (River Plate).
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Zenit), Guido Rodriguez (Club America), Giovani Lo Celso (Betis), Exequiel Palacios (River Plate), Roberto Pereyra (Watford), Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese), Angel Di Maria (PSG).
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Matias Suarez (River).